GRANTHAM, Pa. — With steam-locomotive giants like Western Maryland Scenic 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 and Reading & Northern Class T-1 4-8-4 engine No. 2102 grabbing all the attention in the East this year, one historic steam operation in the region is flying under the radar — as it usually does. And it’s in the midst […]
Train Topic: Preservation
The Trains Interview: Preservation priorities
World events the past two years have kept people from doing what they enjoy. Communities have endured a near-two-year-long pandemic and are navigating the highest inflation in 40 years. Conflict overseas is rattling economies and threatening financial stability. Such events underscore the need for rail preservation groups, who rely on those to share in their […]
Dates set for Minnesota steam locomotive’s return to operation
DULUTH, Minn. — After a two-year hiatus, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum’s North Shore Scenic Railroad will return Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-0 No. 332 to service in September The locomotive will pull trains between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minn. Sept. 10-11 and 24-25. Trains will depart Duluth at 10:00 a.m. each day. No. 332 […]
Iowa Interstate moves donated Union Pacific passenger cars to Silvis Shop (updated)
SILVIS, Ill. — The Iowa Interstate Railroad is moving the first five passenger cars Union Pacific donated to the non-profit Railroading Heritage of Midwest America to the RRHMA shop in Silvis. The cars moved on a special train powered by GP38-2 No. 715, departing Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Thursday, Aug. 25. The train was expected […]
Golden Gate Railroad Museum cancels Labor Day weekend excursions with SP No. 2472
SONOMA, Calif. — The Golden Gate Railroad Museum has cancelled scheduled Labor Day weekend excursions with Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2472 — the last scheduled operation before the locomotive’s required 15-year boiler inspection — citing “unsafe bridge conditions” on trackage owned by commuter operator Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. In a news release on its website, […]
EMD holds 100th anniversary event at Illinois Railway Museum (updated)
UNION, Ill. — Under leaden skies, rainwater pools on the walkway of Progress Rail EMDX SD70ACe-T4 demonstrator No. 7723. On the passenger platform at the Illinois Railway Museum, a much earlier product of Electro-Motive Division rolls to a stop with the museum’s caboose train. Its rain-soaked carbody shining, SD24 No. 504, built in 1959 for […]
Western Maryland Scenic schedules benefit for PRR No. 1361 restoration
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad will hold a steam-powered fundraiser Oct. 14 to benefit restoration of the Railroaders Memorial Museum’s Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361, based in Altoona, Pa. An evening dinner train will be pulled by WMSR’s ex-Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-2 engine No. 1309 (Baldwin, 1949), temporarily […]
Tennessee museum providing switching services for tire plant
DAYTON, Tenn. — A diesel switcher from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is now providing switching for a tire manufacturing plant, an operation that helps support the museum while aiding the growth of the factory. The EMD switcher, built in 1951 for the U.S. Army and later used by the U.S. Air Force at Cape […]
Wichita Falls, Texas, may dispose of most equipment from defunct rail museum
WICHITA FALLS, Texas — The city of Wichita Falls should get rid of most of the rolling stock from its defunct railroad museum, an official from the community’s history museum has recommended. The Times Record News reports Madeleine Calcote-Garcia, director of the Museum of North Texas History, made the recommendation at a Tuesday city council […]
Summer’s final subway ‘Nostalgia special’ draws sellout crowd
NEW YORK — The last of three New York City Transit Museum-sponsored trips using vintage subway equipment drew a sellout crowd on Saturday, Aug. 13, for a trip to the Rockaways. The trip used 1930s Independent R1 through R9 equipment, along with century-old Brooklyn Rapid Transit/Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Co. (BRT/BMT) B-type/Standard equipment — a consist […]
News Photos: Doubleheaded ‘Iron Horse Ramble’ marks Reading & Northern owner’s 75th birthday
READING, Pa. — A doubleheader of 4-8-4 No. 2102 and 4-6-2 No. 425 made the Saturday, Aug. 13, Reading & Northern Iron Horse Ramble — the third of four scheduled — even more of a special event for railfans in the Northeast, drawing large crowds to see the sold-out excursion. It was the first Reading […]
Five receive R&LHS Railroad History honors
The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has announced pandemic-delayed winners of its Railroad History awards for 2020, as well as one award for 2019. The awards recognize senior achievement, photography, and book and magazine authors. Winners for 2020 are John P. Hankey of Omaha, Neb., Gerald M. Best Senior Achievement Award; Brian Solomon of Center […]